Stop-work by shop staff unlikely to affect trading

Press, 17 July 1979, Page 6

Stop-work by shop staff unlikely to affect trading

Christchurch city shop as-j; sistants will hold a stop- : work meeting at 9 a m. next l Monday to vote on whether they wai»t the unqualified preference clause retained in theii awards. Most shops are expected tb! remain open, manned by shop; l owners and salaried staff. ti The secretary of the Can-' terbury Shop Employees’ Union (Mr R. A. Alderdire) said yesterday that the! meeting would last about an; hour. Employers were not; obliged to pay their assistants; for the time off work, but he knew of manv who would! not deduct wages. As many as 2000 members are expected to vote on the' clause If the maioritv favour Its retention union member-;

|ship will be mandatary for! all workers who are covered; I by the union’s rules, or work! under the provisions of the! I various awards. Mr Alderdice said he was | (confident the members would !vote in favour of the clause, j Other meetings of union ;members in Canterbur and the West Coast will be held this month, the last on July) 31. I Unions which have already voted to retain the clause 'include the Canterbury Drivers’ Union; the Canterbury Hotel, Hospital- Restaurlant, and Related Trades Union; the Canterbury Clothing Workers' Union; the Lab-! ! outers’ Union; the Com=: mercial Travellers’ Union;'

|and the Canterbury Clerical j Workers’ Union. ! The biggest union in New Zealand, the Engineers’ ; Union, js at present holdi ing meetings on membership, Mr R. J. Todd, secretary of the Canterbury branch of the Engineers’ Union, said yesterday that seven branch meetings had been held: at (one shop 100 per cent were in favour, and at others the ■ clause was favoured by about ■ S~ per cent of those who voted. Another 12 meetings • have still to be held, includ- ■ ing one in the Repertory ; Theatre on July 31, at which . union members from small workshops and sites will vote. ' Another union holding ,meetings is the Canterbury. Union.